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The "Zombie Cell" Theory: Is Ageing Actually a Disease?
Friday, 6 February, 2026
Why do our bodies actually break down? And why is age the biggest risk factor for cancer? It’s not just "wear and tear", it’s also a biological program, and we might be able to hack it.In this first episode of Semester B, Apeksha, Laziza, and Aditi dive deep into the Biology of Ageing. We break down the famous "Hallmarks of Aging" paper, explain why "Zombie Cells" (Senescence) turn your body into fertile soil for cancer, and debate the controversial question: Should aging be classified as a treatable disease? We discuss:The Paradox: Why the mechanisms that save us when young (stopping cancer) kill us when old.The "Unguarded X": The biological reason women live longer than men but often age with more health issues.Innovation: How 2026 tech like Histotripsy is liquefying pancreatic tumors without incisions.Lifestyle: How sleep and diet physically change your telomeres (backed by the UK Biobank study).References: Hallmarks of Aging:1. López-Otín C, Blasco MA, Partridge L, Serrano M, Kroemer G. Hallmarks of aging: An expanding universe. Cell. 2023 Jan 19;186(2):243–78.Factors: 2. Castruita PA, Piña‐Escudero SD, Rentería ME, Yokoyama JS. Genetic, Social, and Lifestyle Drivers of Healthy Aging and Longevity. Current Genetic Medicine Reports. 2022 Sep 26;10(3):25–34.3. Lu WH . Effect of Modifiable Lifestyle Factors on Biological Aging. The Journal of Aging Research & Lifestyle. 2024;Innovation: 4. Cuzick J, Sestak I, Forbes JF, Dowsett M, Cawthorn S, Mansel RE, et al. Use of anastrozole for breast cancer prevention (IBIS-II): long-term results of a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet [Internet]. 2019 Dec;395(10218). Available from: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(19)32955-1/fulltext5. Wedekind S. Cervical cancer treatment breakthrough cuts risk of death by 40% - Cancer Research UK - Cancer News [Internet]. Cancer Research UK - Cancer News. 2024. Available from: https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2024/10/14/cervical-cancer-treatment-chemotherapy-cuts-risk-of-death-by-40-percent-interlace/6. University of Cambridge. Addenbrooke’s begins innovative liver cancer treatment for first patients in Europe [Internet]. University of Cambridge. 2025. Available from: https://www.cam.ac.uk/news/addenbrookes-begins-innovative-liver-cancer-treatment-for-first-patients-in-europe7. Masterson V, Shine I, North M. Here are 12 new advances in the battle to beat cancer [Internet]. World Economic Forum. 2025. Available from: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/02/cancer-treatment-and-diagnosis-breakthroughs/8. England N. NHS England» NHS rolls out 5-minute “super-jab” for 15 cancers [Internet]. England.nhs.uk. 2025. Available from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/04/nhs-rolls-out-5-minute-super-jab-for-15-cancers/9. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). ASCO 2022: 100% Complete Response Rate in MMRd Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Seen in Pivotal “Immunoablative” Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Clinical Trial | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center [Internet]. www.mskcc.org. 2022. Available from: https://www.mskcc.org/news-releases/asco-2022-100-complete-response-rate-mmrd-locally-advanced-rectal-cancer-seen-pivotal-immunoablative-neoadjuvant-immunotherapy-clinical-trial
